|
For
the Empire
FL/LCM
Myn Nebers/Thunder 2-1/Wing X/ISD Challenge
(blue1@mobynet.com)
A
good day for the Empire indeed. Thought the young captain. The young
captain who would give anything to pay those Rebel Scum back for
their cowardice. For their treacherous ways! But enough of that,
right now I have a ship to run.
Turning from the luminous star field
before him, Captain Pierce of the Imperial Victory-Class Star Destroyer
Protector, walked briskly across the command walkway of his ship.
Catching himself on the spot, Pierce slowed his walk to a pace.
Mustn't seem to giddy, it wouldn't be proper for an Imperi-A blast
that knocked him of his feet stopped the young captain's train of
thoughts. Suddenly the way he walked was the least of his worries.
Standing up with as much grace he could summon, Pierce looked around
his bridge. Several technicians were struggling to get up, but other
than that everything seemed fine.
"Captain!" A voice yelled
from the crew pit. " Sensors show a Rebel frigate five kilometers
of our bow." That doesn't make sense, we're out of range from
their guns! This wasn't making sense to the young Pierce.
"Are there any fighters in range?"
Before the sensors' officer could respond, three X-Wings shot past
the bridge and launched two torpedoes each at the main turbo-laser
batteries. A wave of vibration shook the ship, knocking down the
Captain once again. Reaching up for a handhold on the nearest control
console, Pierce struggled to get up.
"Captain, what is your order?"
An obviously nervous voice echoed across the bridge. Mustering up
as much confidence he could spare, Pierce started barking out orders.
"Weapons, target those fighters and begin firing."
Walking over to his captain's chair, Pierce began to feel more confident
with every step. "Sensors, are there any more ships in the
system?"
"Other than the three X-Wings
and the Frigate there are no more ships sir."
"Is the Rebel Frigate engaging
us?" Asked Pierce.
"No sir. The X-Wings are holding
of too." "Do you know what they're waiting for sir?"
What are they waiting for? Thought Pierce. The logical answer would
be they're reluctant to engage us, and that makes sense because
we outgun them. Still- "Helm bring us twenty degrees to port,
engage the Frigate at flank speed." This will show them! "Also,
launch the fighter squadrons. Have the bombers engage the Frigate."
Just as Pierce gave the order, a thought entered his mind. "No,
wait." Glancing at the sensor board on his command chair, he
viewed the situation. "Assign the bombers to help out our fighters.
Launch our Assault Transports to deal with the Frigate. Or at least
soften it up a bit." That should keep the frigate busy while
we catch up to it. The problem is, they have the speed advantage
on us. Hmm. "Tell the transports to aim for the Frigates engines
if they can.
"Yes sir." The officers
on the bridge started to move and act with more confidence now that
their captain had taken command. There was a change of the constant
hum in the ship as the destroyer's engines came up to flank speed.
The frigate, of in the distance, became larger second by second.
Tiny little flickers of light emerged from the belly of the destroyer.
The red lights were the engine emissions from two full squadrons
of starfighters. As the group of fighters headed out towards the
distant Frigate, two more slightly larger silhouettes crawled past
the Protector's bow. These were the destroyer's two Assault Transports.
Being eighty meters long and sporting four quad laser cannons, including
two warhead launchers, these transports were designed for heavy
assault operations.
"Sir, more fighters have launched
from the Frigate. It looks like a squadron of Y-Wings and the rest
of their X-Wing compliment." The sensor officer said.
"Alright, assign half the bomber
squadron to take out the Y-Wings. Tell them to use their missiles."
Pierce got out of his command chair and strolled over to the viewpoint.
"The rest of the bombers are to cover our fighters. They are
to stay at a distance and try for missile locks on the X-Wings."
That should do it. Pierce smiled slightly. He knew the Rebels were
dead. There's no way they can survive this. The Imperial fighters
were just reaching the enemy, when out of no ware, a large white
object coasted into space and blocked the enemy ships. A cold dagger
stabbed its way into Pierce's belly. The new ship could only be
one thing. A Mon Calamari star cruiser. The huge oval ship opened
up with all its weaponry. Sheets of red energy mixed with bolts
of blue lightning decimated the imperial fighters. They had no chance;
they were gone in a split second. One of the Assault transports,
which just barely survived the first barrage of torment, limped
away slowly. For a second Pierce thought they might make it, but
no. The second wave of destruction vaporized the charred hull.
"Sir, a Mon Calamari cruiser
has en- Yes I know" Pierce said, finishing the officer's sentence.
"Your orders sir?" There's
only one thing to do now. Pierce sighed as he walked over to his
command chair. "Find me the closest jump course out of the
system, and take it."
"Yes sir." The officer said,
consulting with his navigation ensign. Protector's bow turned away
from the Rebel ships, found its hyperspace point and sped up quickly.
The system's stars elongated and morphed into a tunnel of bright
light. Somehow he had to come up with an excuse. An excuse for why
he had lost his entire compliment of fighters. Including two transports.
An excuse his commanders would except. Well, except without too
much punishment anyway.
|
